Hispanic Heritage Month

From mid-September through mid-October, SMU joins the nation in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month by recognizing the contributions, culture and heritage of Hispanic Americans.

Hispanic Heritage Month was first approved in 1968 by President Lyndon B. Johnson as a 7-day observation. In 1988, President Ronald Reagan expanded the recognition to cover a 30-day period. Coinciding with independence anniversaries of seven Latin American countries, Hispanic Heritage Month begins on Sept. 15 and is celebrated through Oct. 15.

Viva America: Hispanic Heritage Month Kick-Off

SMU kicks off Hispanic Heritage Month with Viva America on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Van Meter Performance Plaza outside of Mustang Band Hall. Co-hosted by SMU Multicultural Student Affairs and College Hispanic American Students, Viva America is an outdoor festival celebrating all Hispanic cultures. Beginning with a flag ceremony, the festival also includes a DJ, live cultural performances, Latin food, aguas frescas and dancing.

Iron Constitution: SMU will observe Constitution Day Sept. 17. A copy of the preamble to the Constitution will be on display in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Commons throughout the day. Read more.

Magic time: The Gartner Lecture Series presents “Why Are We Here If We’re Not Magic? Residential Colleges and the Renewal of University Life” at 4 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Faculty Club. For more information, contact Julian Guevara at 8-2250.

Keeping up with human rights: The SMU Faculty Club presents Rick Halperin on “Global Status of Human Rights” in its Clubhouse Lunch series at noon Sept. 19 in the Faculty Club. RSVP to Dee Powell, 8-3012.

Planning for Iraq: Jon Alterman, director and senior fellow of the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, discusses “Thinking Small: The Way Forward in Iraq” Sept. 24 at the Park City Club, 5956 Sherry Lane, Suite 1700. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with a luncheon from noon-1:30 p.m. The event is co-sponsored by SMU’s Tower Center for Political Studies and The World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth. For more information, call 8-3665.